A TEIGNMOUTH sailor is the first entry to be accepted for a prestigious yacht race.

Stuart Palmer, 47, will compete in the J?P?Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race around the Isle of Wight on June 1, in Redshank, his Evolution 26 class yacht.

Self-employed and married and with two young children, he is entering the race for the first time, but has two crew members who have competed before.

Julian Weyer Brown won the family class with his yacht Coral of Teignmouth in 2006, and Mathew Owen competed and finished last year helming Moon-Stream.